Richard in Texas: They didn't have any crowds at MLB exhibition games, but piped in a little crowd sound to make it feel normal, without gaining any advantage. Do you want the NFL to do that as well?
John Schmeelk: If I approach this as a producer/announcer, I am in favor of artificial background crowd noise being added to the on-field sound effects feed during the broadcast to make it sound more natural. Listening to game broadcasts with no ambient sound is too odd. In college, I was forced to call an NYU-Brandeis basketball game in Waltham, Mass., from what can best be described as a sound proof isolation booth. There was no sound feed heading into our headphones. It felt so bizarre doing a game with absolute silence around us that it unnerved my broadcast partner, Matt Brown, and I. It hurt the broadcast.
Chris in New York: Do you really believe the new coaching staff will make some adjustments to the team that could make the Giants playoff worthy?
John Schmeelk: I am not trying to downplay the importance of a new coaching staff. They can make a real difference with their teaching, schematics and strategy; but when all is said and done, it comes down to the players on the field. The most important thing for the Giants this season will be for their young players to continue improving. The players on their rookie contracts (dating back to the 2017 draft) need to become the foundation of this team. The new coaches can help with it, but it is a player's league and the results will be dependent on them.
Frank in New York: I am surprised that the Giants did not choose a wide receiver in this year's draft. The draft was full of them, especially some sky scrapper-type players that the team could have used. Our three starting WRs are not that tall and Golden Tate is aging. I thought they could have picked one between the 5th-7th rounds. Why do you think one was not drafted?
John Schmeelk: The generic answer is that Dave Gettleman didn't think a receiver was the best player on the board when they came to make their picks. Since it was such a deep class, the Giants got Austin Mack as an undrafted free agent, someone with a big wing span that many predicted would be a sixth- or seventh- round pick. They also signed his teammate, 6'4 Binjimen Victor as a free agent. According to experts, believe it or not, next year's receiver class is supposed to be just as good so they could attack it then.
Jacob in Connecticut: With Xavier McKinney being drafted by the Giants, what role do you see Julian Love playing in the secondary?
John Schmeelk: Love's versatility should allow Patrick Graham to use him all over the field. He can compete with McKinney for snaps as the center fielder in single-high defenses. He can move into the slot, where he played in college. He can also play closer to the line of scrimmage, like he did when he replaced Jabrill Peppers late in 2019. In three safety looks, he could be a Swiss Army knife for the defense.
Jeff in Arizona: Do you think Will Hernandez has the stuff to play center? He's aggressive, but not the biggest guy in the room. There are other options at guard, including Nick Gates and Shane Lemieux.
John Schmeelk: The last thing you should be worrying about with Hernandez is his size and strength. He is fully capable of moving people in the run game at guard, which is where he will stay. There will be an open competition at center, featuring Spencer Pulley, Lemieux and Gates.
View photos of Giants second-year defensive back Julian Love.
New York Giants DB Julian Love (24) during a regular season week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) tackles Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) during an NFL football game Monday December 9th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday December 15th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins Sunday September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) defends during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) defends during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) drops into coverage during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) signals to the sideline during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) lines up in the secondary during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Chicago. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Julian Love (24) waits for the snap during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Chicago. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) returns an interception during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Chicago. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) intercept a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday October 20, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) covers a kickoff return in an NFL game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday October 27, 2019 in Detroit. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) studies a Microsoft Surface Tablet during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday October 20, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Julian Love (24) rests during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday Sept. 8, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) intercepts a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims (83) during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
New York Giants' Julian Love (24) warms up before a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Thursday October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass, (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) takes part in a week 4 regular season game against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday September 29th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during a week 16 regular season game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday December 22nd, 2019 in Landover, Maryland
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) takes part in a week 6 regular season game against the New England Patriots on Thursday October 10th, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) takes part in a week 8 regular season game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday October 27th, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan
New York Giants DB Julian Love (24) during a week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this March 4, 2019, file photo, Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame's Julian Love during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Boston, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Notre Dame won 49-20. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love, left, is tackled by Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love plays against Florida State in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind.,Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love, left, runs with the ball after intercepting a pass from Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ken in Florida: Will the Giants be less predictable with the play-calling this year?
John Schmeelk: No matter who the Giants' offensive coordinator has been in the 14 seasons I have worked with the team, fans have complained the offense is too predictable. And fans of other teams constantly have the same complaint about their coordinators. This is an easy criticism that too often has very little basis in fact. It's just an easy way for fans to place blame.
Tim in New Mexico: How long do you think it will take both units to gel, given the lack of on-field work this off-season?
John Schmeelk: This is the million-dollar question. I don't know. Nobody does. I feel confident the players will arrive in-shape and prepared, given most of the roster's character. But how long will it take the new systems and schemes to become second nature as guys execute them at full speed? I just don't know.
Based on some reports, the first true unpadded practice won't be until the middle of August. Walk-throughs will be extremely important to learn the playbook. Perhaps the coaching staff might reduce some of the schemes on both sides of the ball? Maybe the offense will come along quickly because most of the players on that side of the ball are returning. There is no way to know, given the unique nature of the off-season.
View photos of the Giants' active roster as it currently stands.
OT Jackson Barton
WR C.J. Board
CB James Bradberry
LB Cam Brown
LB TJ Brunson
DB Adrian Colbert
LB Carter Coughlin
LB Tae Crowder
P Riley Dixon
LB Devante Downs
(Kevin Terrell via AP)
DB Nate Ebner
TE Evan Engram
LB Kyler Fackrell
OT Cameron Fleming
RB Wayne Gallman
K Graham Gano
G Nick Gates
DB Madre Harper
G Will Hernandez
DL B.J. Hill
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
DB Darnay Holmes
DT Austin Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DE Niko Lalos
DL Dexter Lawrence
G Shane Lemieux
RB Dion Lewis
CB Julian Love
WR Austin Mack
LB Blake Martinez
LB David Mayo
QB Colt McCoy
DL R.J. McIntosh
(Scott Boehm via AP)
DB Xavier McKinney
RB Alfred Morris
OL Kyle Murphy
OT Matt Peart
S Jabrill Peppers
WR Dante Pettis
C Spencer Pulley
DB Logan Ryan
DE Jabaal Sheard
WR Sterling Shepard
WR Darius Slayton
(AP Photo/Michael Perez)
TE Kaden Smith
WR Golden Tate III
OT Andrew Thomas
TE Levine Toilolo
DL Dalvin Tomlinson
DL Leonard Williams
CB Isaac Yiadom
G Kevin Zeitler
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